Fresh data on the straying of teenagers from Facebook to other social media platforms. I wonder what is behind this trend. Is it the trend of parents on to Facebook that is driving their kids away? Is it the lure of the apparent (but not actual) temporariness of SnapChat?

Zepfhyr

I work at a high school and still see a disproportionately high number of students on Facebook throughout the day (we have a 1:1 program of MacBook Airs). I wonder if students are creating accounts that lie about their actual age to appear older, which is also skewing these numbers.

Of course, there’s no scientific data to back this up. Just some observational thoughts.

Given the small age range in the demographics relative to the time period of the study, it’s unclear if existing teenage users are “straying” or freshly minted teenagers just aren’t joining in the same volume.

It’s a lot easier for teenagers to change services than adults because their social contacts and interests tend to be in more of a constant state of flux than adults. I hate Facebook, but I’m on there simply because that’s where the majority of my friends are. Unless they all suddenly switched to another service I don’t have a lot of motivation to switch myself.

Bretton Morgan

Social networks are inherently faddish and generational. Anyone remember AOL? Yeah, exactly. However, they do make for good stock speculation.

Mark

Did anyone consider that kids tend to be leaders when it comes to “new” things. They are always going to navigate to what’s “New and Trendy”. If a social medium doesn’t appeal to them or wow them they won’t go there or stay. The question that should be asked is “Why would teens want to use Facebook? What is the value to them?” Any social medium has to figure how to attract teens as well as adults and appeal to both segments with info or interaction that interests them. They have to continue to develop that content and advance or the people will move to something they value more. I don’t have a Facebook account, I have never had one, I don’t see the value. I have twitter, I can control my information coming in and going out as I please. Same applies to twitter, if they don’t continue to evolve they will be in the same situation as Facebook.

For reference see Braniff Airlines, Montgomery Wards Department Stores, Circuit City, Steak and Ale restaurants, Blackberry Phones the list goes on and on. Bring value to your customers or you may find yourself without customers to support your business

Mother Hydra

“I don’t have a Facebook account, I have never had one, I don’t see the value” Ditto. A product defended on the premise of connecting people together – clever marketing for what is little more than an advertising company. I’m ready for the Facebook navel-gazing to end.

Billy Razzle

The beginning of the end.

Mother Hydra

I’ve been ridiculed in the pat, but I knew the eventual decline of Facebook would be not long after their IPO. Here we are at the beginning of the end.

TheBreen

Facebook is largely for reconnecting with people from your past who you may not be in easy contact with. Kids don’t have much of a “past,” and they’re in constant communication with their friends at school and via text. What does Facebook even have to offer them?

JohnDoey

Why Facebook when you can FaceTime? It’s much better and it’s much more private. And you don’t have to sign up — it’s already there inside your iPod. And there are no ads.

In short, today’s teenagers have many, many more options to connect with each other than a social network from 2006.

Dips

Not remotely the same thing is it?

Tvaddic

These things are trends, the kids arrive first because they want something new, then the parents come to keep up with the kids, then the kids finally leave because the site isn’t cool anymore and to get away form their family.